“There is a Catskill eagle in some souls that can alike dive down into the blackest gorges, and soar out of them again and become invisible in the sunny spaces. And even if he for ever flies within the gorge, that gorge is in the mountains; so that even in his lowest swoop the mountain eagle is still higher than other birds upon the plain” ― Herman Melville Moby Dick
I have been fascinated with birds of prey since childhood. They are wary of humans and challenging to photograph – good pics usually require some knowledge of raptor behavior, a good amount of patience, and often a dash of luck. Click on the pic to see a larger version. See my raptor research page for more about my work with raptors.
Waiting for eagles at Tussey Mtn
Bald Eagles have become fairly common along the Delaware River in the last decade. This one was perched along Rt 611 just north of Easton.
This eagle grabbed a gull at the river’s edge in Easton
“The mind is loosed, and, emptied of all edged and clattering thoughts, goes freely floating out to meet the bird” – M. Murie writing about golden eagles in Alaska
Golden eagle with prey – Arches National Monument
Young osprey on the hunt. Osprey have made a strong comeback along the Delaware River in the past decade.
The ubiquitous Red-tailed Hawk flashes its namesake tail
Graceful Black-shouldered Kite, northern California
evening Harrier, Alpha, NJ
Lesser Kestrel, Tarifa, Spain
Peregrine falcon zooms past below eye-level
More about Peregrines here
Swainson’s Hawk near Moriarity, New Mexico
Cooper’s Hawk has adapted well to suburbia, including College Hill.
Another Cooper’s migrating along Blue Mountain
Broad-winged Hawk migrating along a ridge near Easton
Red-shouldered Hawk, Nockamixon State Park
Turkey Vulture soars with ease on the updrafts
Griffon vulture, Picos de Europa
Short-toed snake eagle, Tarifa, Spain
One of the strangest raptors – Secretary Bird at Maasi Mara, Kenya
Adult accipiters have a fierce red fire (apologies to Leopold)
More fierce red eyes – Northern Goshawk, rare denizen of old growth forests
Sharp-shinned hawk migrating along Kittatinny Ridge
Pair of great-horned owls, Gollub Park, Easton, PA
Great gray owl near Duluth, MN
Hey you! Don’t steal my pictures!